Via Rail death: Woman dies with flu-like symptoms

A woman with flu-like symptoms who died on a cross-Canada train on the weekend complained of feeling ill before boarding, Via Rail said.

The 86-year-old woman, whose identity has not been released, boarded the train in Edmonton with two relatives, and suddenly died near Parry Sound, Ontario Provincial Police said.

Two cabins on the train, which had departed from Vancouver on Dec. 25, had been quarantined after the passengers said they were feeling ill, said Elizabeth Huart, spokesperson for Via Rail.

She said it was a decision made by both train officials and the passengers themselves to stay in their cabin.

“When [these passengers] boarded the train, they indicated to our employees that they were not feeling good. That they had flu-like symptoms, and it was decided that they would be quarantined,” she said Sunday. “Which means that they would stay in their cabin, and all of the services would come to them.”

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